Farley, who made 109 league and 40 European appearances for Connacht, is now team manager at Grenoble where Bernard Jackman and Mike Prendergast head up the coaching team.

Connacht will also host Munster at the Sportsground in August as part of their preparations for the new season.

The two attractive home preseason friendlies will be a great way for Connacht to kick off the 2015-16 campaign and get rugby fever going in the build-up to the World Cup.

Farley, a fans favourite, enjoyed six successful seasons with Connacht before moving to France in 2009 where the lock forward captained Grenoble to promotion to the Top 14.

That was prior to Jackman, who himself enjoyed two spells with Connacht, took charge with the arrival of former Munster scrum-half Prendergast increasing the Irish influence at a club where James Hart from Clontarf and former Ulster centre Chris Farrell are on the playing roster.

The dates and times of the two preseason games against Grenoble and Munster are expected to be announced by Connacht shortly and will be a big boost to season ticket sales.

Of more immediate concern, of course, for Connacht is tomorrow's crucial Pro12 clash with current leaders Glasgow Warriors.

And Glasgow winger Tommy Seymour says the Scots know they will have a battle on their hands at the Sportsground.

"Connacht have created a very strong squad down there and played consistently well throughout the year with some very impressive results.

"They're been taking strides up the table. They were already, in previous years, a very difficult side to play especially away from home but I think this year they have galvanised a lot more than that and they've become a side that regardless of where you are playing them or at what point of the season.

"They're a quality side and they can put teams away so we've got to produce a top rate performance in order to go over there and get a result," said the former Ulster winger.